What’s happening?
Rockhampton locals are being invited to get creative and sustainable with the launch of the annual Reviva Reuse Competition. Run by local not-for-profit Resource Recovery Australia, which operates the Reviva Reuse Shops, the competition celebrates community creativity in upcycling and repurposing everyday materials.
Now in its sixth year, the event has become a much-loved highlight that showcases the region’s innovative spirit. Past entries have included repurposed clothing turned into quilts, mosaic art made from broken tiles, and entire kitchens crafted from upcycled materials.
Reviva Rockhampton Area Manager Kahli Pearson said, “This competition is the highlight of our year because it showcases the incredible ideas and talents in our community. We often have customers chat with us about their upcycling projects, and we know they’ll be eager to enter and win the competition.”
Local impact
Rockhampton’s community spirit shines through every year in the competition. Last year’s local prize went to Robert Spreadborough, who crafted a remarkable emu sculpture using an old plow disk, plow tynes, sulky spring, and barbed wire. “Rockhampton has a great sense of community and a real love for making something out of nothing,” Kahli said.
Why it matters
The Reviva Reuse Competition encourages creative sustainability and highlights the environmental benefits of reuse. “Upcycling helps reduce waste and the demand for new raw materials, making it a simple yet effective way to care for our planet,” Kahli said. “It’s about taking old, discarded items and transforming them into something useful. Our community never ceases to amaze us with what they can create.”
By the numbers
• $300 Visa gift card is the national prize on offer for the most outstanding reuse project, recognising creativity on a broader scale.
• $200 Visa gift card will be awarded to the Rockhampton local winner for their innovative upcycling creation.
• Six years of the Reviva Reuse Competition have celebrated local talent and inspired sustainable design across the community.
• More than 30 unique items will feature in the Cent Sale at the Reviva Ibis event, including a handmade garden bench chair as the door prize.
Zoom in
To celebrate National Recycling Week, the Reviva team will host a special community event at Reviva Ibis Reuse Shop on Saturday, November 16, from 8 am to 12 pm at the Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Centre.
Visitors can enjoy:
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A Cent Sale with more than 30 items up for grabs and $2 ticket sheets.
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Free Tinkerage Workshops for families to create Recycled Bauble Art and Christmas Bauble Hangers.
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A $5 Reviva Workshop where participants can make their own Dinosaur and Fairy Garden Tea Cups.
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A Tinkerage Display showcasing upcycled creations, volunteer opportunities, and community projects.
Cold drinks will also be available for purchase on the day.
Zoom out
The competition forms part of a broader effort to encourage circular economy practices across Queensland, reminding people that creativity and sustainability can go hand in hand.
What to look for next
Entries for the Reviva Reuse Competition 2025 close on Saturday, November 15, at the end of National Recycling Week. Locals can submit their projects online at www.resourcerecovery.org.au/competition for a chance to win and have their creativity celebrated nationally.
